Empress of the Underworld by Gilbert L. Morris Read Free Book Online Page B

palace. It took the labor of thousands and thousands to carve it out of solid stone. Others are busy finding the precious gems, but you have not seen the half.”
    Then Fareena said, “You must be tired. Let me take you to your quarters.”
    â€œThank you, Your Majesty. I could never find my way alone.”
    When they were inside Abbey’s room, the empress sat down for a moment. “I enjoy banquets,” she said. “But a little quiet talk is sometimes much better, is it not?”
    â€œOh, yes, Your Majesty.” Abbey still felt somewhat nervous in the presence of this beautiful woman. Her green eyes were so strong and powerful that she could not meet them, and she dropped her own gaze.
    â€œNow I have a little gift for you.” The empress reached into a hidden pocket and brought forth a small golden box. “My own special incense. I make it myself,” she said proudly. Rising, she walked over to a table where an incense burner sat. She lit it from one of the candles, opened the golden box, and poured some of the incenseinto the bowl. “Come—we will enjoy it together,” she said.
    Abbey came to sit beside her, and soon the smoke from the incense rose from the burner.
    â€œThat is pleasant, is it not?”
    â€œOh, yes, very nice.” Abbey actually thought the scent was rather strong, but she did not want to displease the empress. She continued to breathe the scented air, and for some reason it made her very sleepy.
    She confessed this to the empress. “What is in it? It seems to make me drowsy.”
    â€œIt’s my own special formula,” she said. “Better than any sleeping potion you will ever have. But it makes you feel very good, does it not?”
    Abbey was sleepy. She had difficulty keeping her eyes open, and the empress’s voice seemed to come from far away. But it was a rather delicious feeling.
    â€œHave you noticed my pendant?” Empress Fareena asked softly, her voice no louder than a spring breeze. “It’s beautiful, is it not?” The empress held it before her eyes.
    Abigail stared at the green stone with the carving. “Yes,” Abbey murmured. “Very beautiful.”
    â€œIt was made for me many years ago by an expert craftsman. It’s the only one of its kind. Do you see the carving?”
    As the empress slowly let the pendant sway, Abbey tried to follow it. The deep green seemed to be magnified and the carved serpent almost alive.
    â€œVery—very beautiful, Your Majesty,” she muttered. It was growing harder and harder for her to stay awake.
    The empress was speaking, and she tried desperately to keep her mind on what was being said. But that was more and more difficult. She did hear the empress say, “You have come to us to learn the truth, Abbey. You want the truth, do you not?”
    â€œYes—” Abbey nodded “—the truth.”
    The empress continued to speak about the Kingdom of the Underworld and its enemies the Underlings and how difficult it was to win the battle against them.
    â€œBut we must win, mustn’t we, Abbey?”
    â€œYes, we must win.”
    â€œWe can’t let the evil ones take over the kingdom, can we?”
    â€œNo, we must not.”
    Again and again the empress spoke of truth and of the right way. Then she began to speak of what was to come. “If we can only defeat our enemies, you would receive great honor.”
    â€œGreat honor?” Abigail echoed.
    â€œYes, more than you ever thought. These little trinkets that you wear—why, they’re nothing. You love diamonds and jewels, do you not, Abbey?”
    â€œYes, I love them.”
    â€œThey will all be yours, if you come to the truth.”
    â€œTo the truth,” Abigail recited obediently. On and on, the voice of the empress seemed to seep into her, and the green stone seemed to grow till it filled the room.
    â€œI will make you strong,